Trump: 'only one thing will work' with North Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump says “only one thing will work” in dealing with North Korea after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results. Grace Lee reports.

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(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DISCUSSING HEALTHCARE, SAYING:
REPORTER (OFF CAMERA) ASKING: "What is the 'one thing' that will work regarding North Korea?"
TRUMP: "Well, you'll figure that out pretty soon."
Cryptic words from the U.S. president on Saturday (October 7) when asked to clarify a pair of tweets about North Korea.
"Only one thing will work" in dealing with the regime, he tweeted, after previous administrations had talked to Pyongyang without results.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, IN AN EXCHANGE WITH A REPORTER, SAYING:
"If we take that option, it will be devastating. I can tell you that -- devastating for North Korea. That's called the military option."
Trump has been increasingly hinting at military action in recent weeks and has said that the U.S. would "totally destroy" North Korea if necessary, to protect itself and its allies from Pyongyang's nuclear threats.
He was also asked about another comment from earlier this week.
(UPSOUND) (English) UNITED STATES PRESIDENT, DONALD TRUMP, SAYING:
Could be the calm before the storm.
To which the president responded:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DISCUSSING HEALTHCARE, SAYING:
TRUMP: "Nothing to clarify."
What's clear is that the U.S. President is not interested in talking with Pyongyang.
Last Sunday (October 1) he dismissed the idea of talks as a waste of time, a day after Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Washington was keeping lines open with the North.
North Korea is reportedly preparing to test a long range missile that it believes can reach the U.S. west coast, according to a Russian lawmaker who visited Pyongyang last week.
Its nuclear and missile programs have driven up tensions in the region and around the world.

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